Visit our Popular Forums

Minno · 03-04-2010, 04:57 PM

Oh, how could they! We got our Airstream Life yesterday, and there, in the article on trailer hitching, is a MUSTANG hitched up to an Airstream! My husband has been trying to convince me that he could tow our Little Girl with his "05 Mustang GT convertible (you know, wind in your hair, towing a special trailer, everyone looking, waving to the crowd, etc, etc). I thought I had convinced him that it couldn't be done. NOW, though, he has proof that it can! WHAT AM I GOING to DO???!!!?!!???

signed,

Distraught wife

Chuck · 03-04-2010, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minno

WHAT AM I GOING to DO???!!!?!!???

1: jump into the passenger seat
2: Buckle-up!
3: adorn kerchief and jackie-O sunglasses
4: enjoy the ride!

mutcth · 03-04-2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minno

WHAT AM I GOING to DO???!!!?!!???

One, you're going to catch grief from a lot of the "you need a 3/4-ton truck" folks.

If you're OK with that (or even if you aren't), then you can look at the additional Mustang pictures in this thread. There's also more details about the modifications needed to the trailer to bring the tongue weight into a workable range for towing. He was also towing a modern 23' trailer - not sure how it would equate to your not-much-heavier-but-certainly-longer vintage 31'.

Then you should probably PM Andy Thompson - author of the article and that linked thread above - and ask his advice. He set up my minivan and trailer, which tows wonderfully, and he's set up a lot of other "unconventional" tow rigs.

Tom

Road Ruler · 03-04-2010, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mutcth

One, you're going to catch grief from a lot of the "you need a 3/4-ton truck" folks.
Tom

lol.... they all have a cord of firewood and a couple generators to transport where ever they go so towing with a Mustang just won't work.

Andy T set up our rig too. Not a convertible but still a blast to tour around in.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...bc/022-1-2.jpg

Minno · 03-04-2010, 05:28 PM

Well, you guys are no help!

Kay

Road Ruler · 03-04-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minno

Well, you guys are no help!

Kay

This is all you need Kay......the shades, the DH, the bullet, and the Stang!

tallytwo1994 · 03-04-2010, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minno

Well, you guys are no help!

Kay

Kay,

Being men, I'm pretty sure they didn't intend to help. I read the info on the other link but I still don't understand how they can tow even a 23 footer with a Mustang. My husband bought a GT in 2007 and since then I been trying to figure out how to use it for a cross country camping trip. Ford cites the Mustang's maximum towing capacity as 1000 pounds. The only Airstream trailer I would consider pulling with our Mustang is Der Kleine Prinz, and that's only because it's just to cute not to.

Carol

the ponz · 03-04-2010, 06:30 PM

you say your husband wants wind in his hair? Just get him a bicycle!

Minno · 03-04-2010, 06:40 PM

He actually doesn't have that much hair...

, but we won't go there! I have a Mustang too ('95 GT convertible - such a practical car for Minnesota), so I already have the shades, etc. but I don't, unfortunately, look quite like that picure! I'm shorter than she is

... and I wear a Navy ball cap.

Kay

FreshAir · 03-04-2010, 07:42 PM

No, towing 31' with a Mustang is very unsafe. Even if the 'Stang had all the power that you need it doesn't have the wheel base. The 31'er will take control in a wind or a downhill braking situation. As you see we tow 24' with a convertible. However our convertible has the wheel base of a Cadillac and weighs almost as much as our trailer. ALSO the downside for us and way more for you is adequate space to stow everything that you may need for extended trips. It's a real pain to unload the trailer of camping needs/wants to just stay a night over on the road.
Neil.

Road Ruler · 03-05-2010, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreshAir

Even if the 'Stang had all the power that you need it doesn't have the wheel base. As you see we tow 24' with a convertible. However our convertible has the wheel base of a Cadillac.
Neil.

Neil has supplied some good info and there is some more about this which I have learned.

The Buick has a long wheelbase and also has a long rear overhang (distance from rear axle to hitch ball which eats away from the long wheelbase advantage. The wheelbase to overhang ratio on this car is about 43%.

The Mustang has a shorter wheelbase but also has a much shorter rear overhang. The ratio on this car is approx 38%. The lower the ratio number the better.
Also need to consider many, many other vehicle characteristics when determining overall stability.

**Kevin245** · 03-05-2010, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minno

Well, you guys are no help!

Kay

You are soooooo right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We forgot to mention that you'll need some sunscreen!

FreshAir · 03-05-2010, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

Neil has supplied some good info and there is some more about this which I have learned.

The Buick has a long wheelbase and also has a long rear overhang (distance from rear axle to hitch ball which eats away from the long wheelbase advantage. The wheelbase to overhang ratio on this car is about 43%.

The Mustang has a shorter wheelbase but also has a much shorter rear overhang. The ratio on this car is approx 38%. The lower the ratio number the better.
Also need to consider many, many other vehicle characteristics when determining overall stability.

Correct about the Buick rear overhang plus the annoying placement of the gas filler pipe...behind the license plate in the center of the bumper! I've had to have a beefy hitch made and a longer shank as to get the gas pump hose to clear the trailer tongue

. This requires 1000# WDH bars. All this works well for us. Oh, the sacrifice

. We ARE living 'the life'!

Neil.

Road Ruler · 03-05-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreshAir

All this works well for us. Oh, the sacrifice

. We ARE living 'the life'!

Neil.

We are with ya Neil and on the same road.

However our sunroof pales in comparison to your full blown rag top.

FreshAir · 03-05-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreshAir

Correct about the Buick rear overhang plus the annoying placement of the gas filler pipe...behind the license plate in the center of the bumper! I've had to have a beefy hitch made and a longer shank as to get the gas pump hose to clear the trailer tongue

. This requires 1000# WDH bars. All this works well for us. Oh, the sacrifice

. We ARE living 'the life'!

Neil.

Here are '1000s of words' to support Road Ruler's and my posts.
Neil.

Minno · 03-05-2010, 10:55 AM

Nice setup Neil! I think I could become quite jealous...

Ok, this all started out as a joke. Thought process and words were something like this: Gee, the Excursion V-10 is ~315 HP. Muffin (my 05 GT) is ~310 HP (slightly modified intake and exhaust on both to increase airflow). So, if the truck can tow 9600 lbs, why can't Muffin tow 7,500 lbs? One of those things I keep teasing Kay about. Certainly not a serious thought - putting a 7,000 pound 31' trailer behind my little 'Stang. To make matter worse, Muffin is a stick. So the clutch would probably burn out in a few thousand miles.

When I was reading the new Airstream Life, I started laughing when I saw the picture of the Mustang hitched up to an AS. Just the "proof" I needed to show Kay that it "can be done!"

Of course, there was no information in the article about what type of Mustang or Airstream was in the picture, but I figured it must be a much smaller AS than we have.

Anyway, this has been a treat to read all the responses and other threads we were pointed too.

To help ensure we keep a happy marriage - it ain't gonna happen, so stop fretting over it.

Chris

ps – thanks to all for the support!